Insecurity: South-East Governors Ready To Launch Security Outfit
By JOHNKENNEDY UZOMA, Owerri.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has disclosed the resolve of the governors in the South Eastern part of the country to set up a formidable security outfit for the region.
He hinted that governors of the states will be storming Owerri for a meeting to fashion out modalities for the setting up of a security outfit for the region.
The Governor disclosed this during an interaction with the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo State Council at the Government House Owerri.
He said that governors had agreed and designed an arrangements to set up the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which was hijacked by the members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), to commit a lot of mayhem.
Uzodimma said that the meeting will take a holistic assessment of the security situation in the region and determine the best solution to tackling the issue, especially after the fiasco of the ESN.
He said: “the governors would not want to be a copy cat, especially with the pressure put on them after the formation of Amotekun by the South West governors, adding that the new outfit will be different from others”.
The Governor calls for vigelsnce in every zone stressing need to have a security outfit, especially with the present situation in the country.
He assured that governors cannot lose fate with the management of security in the region adding that they must be careful in the way they go about it.
He expressed regreat how the South East governors tried to set up the Eastern Security Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Attorneys-General of the 5 South Eastern states who have already anchored a report on it but it was hijacked by IPOB to commit crime.
He insisted that arrangement to set up a formidable security outfit will continue adding that what they are already reviewing the entire situation and in the end will come up with an outfit that will be lasting.
He said: ” We don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copy cats. There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure that there is no external aggression”.
The Governor declared that its not a failure of government because the primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the people.
On the recovery of property allegedly looted by the former administration, Uzodimma expressed his commitment to ensuring that justice is done.
He dismissed the allegation that the whole exercise was a witch-hunt, stressing that the commission on inquiry on recovery of public property did a diligent job by investigating widely, adding that Eastern Palm University has been gazetted.
The Governor said that government will soon gazette its findings on the report of the commission of inquiry on lands and other related matters.
While commending the members of the Correspondent’s Chapel of NUJ for their support, called for strong partnership with the media to ensure that Government success in their policies to offer effective governance to the people of the state.
